"dethroned" track listing:

01. Oblivion02. End User03. Techcceleration (The Machine Speaks)04. Here Comes The Rain Again05. Fade Out06. Unbelievable (The Mind Speaks)07. Dethroned08. How Were We Supposed To Know?09. Every Day (The Body Speaks)10. Transcend11. The Past (The Heart Speaks)

"With 'dethroned,' Autumn Hour has created a concept album flows together almost perfectly to tell its story of the merger of human and machine. "

In writing my review of Autumn Hour's "dethroned," it amuses me that I'm going to give such high praise to a CD that nearly killed me. Perhaps I should explain. With "dethroned" rocking the speakers, I was merrily driving my Toyota on my way to work, bashing out some air drums on the steering wheel (c'mon guys, you've all been there). All of a sudden, the album's fourth track came on, and I heard the lyrics "Here comes the rain again, falling on my head like a memory ..."

No way! This band seriously was attempting a heavy metal cover of the Eurythmics — and it was working! I started laughing with joy and searching the passenger seat for the CD booklet to be sure I was actually hearing what I thought I was.

Fortunately, I looked up in time to swerve away from a cement truck that had veered into my lane. As it was, I think the incident may have taken a couple years off my life — but a great album like this one makes it worth it. Yeah, "Here Comes The Rain Again" is a high point, but this is an album full of them.

Though I'd classify it as mostly progressive metal, the disc really does defy genre in some interesting ways, with some almost death-like growls, some guitar solos that wouldn't be out of place on a power metal album, and the occasional thrash flourish on the drums.

Like any good prog rock album, "dethroned" has a story to tell — and this one is among the most intriguing I've heard in a while. Apparently based on the ideas Ray Kurzweil explored in his book, "The Singularity Is Near," the album tells the story of a devastated world in which technology attempts to save mankind from extinction.

In short, this is an album for geeks like me — though any metalhead will probably find something to love. Still, when the band paraphrases the Green Lantern oath from the comic books ("In brightest day, in blackest night ...") in "Fade Out," it definitely seems like a shout-out to the geeks.

Justin Jurman's guitars are excellent throughout, though on "End User," they sound a mite tinny. His fleet-fingered solos are a highlight of the album.

Clint Arent's bass lines are interesting, particularly on "Here Comes The Rain Again," in which his bass picks up the part played by the symphonic synths in the Eurythmics original.

Dave Lecinsky's drumming is excellent as well, though he overpowers the beginning of "End User."

Other than a couple technical issues with "End User," I don't have many quibbles with the album. Sure, the acoustic "How Were We Supposed To Know?" and the metallic "Every Day (The Body Speaks)" could've been tightened up a little, but they don't overstay their welcome by that much.

With "dethroned," Autumn Hour has created a concept album that flows together almost perfectly to tell its story of the merger of human and machine. And, if you don't care about the story, it's got enough rocking riffs and technical musical moments to keep your head banging and your toes tapping. You can't ask for more than that.